SNP MP Angela Crawley has called on the UK government to change the law to ensure those who experience a miscarriage are given at least three days paid leave.

In a cross-party letter to the Prime Minister, the MP for Lanark and Hamilton East highlights that around one in eight pregnancies will end in miscarriage, meaning thousands of women and men are “suffering profound loss without adequate time to grieve.”

The SNP 2021 Manifesto said the party will bring in a new Women’s Health Plan that will “establish a dignified, compassionate miscarriage service, tailored to the needs of women” and emulate New Zealand where families who experience miscarriage or stillbrith are entitled to 3 days of paid leave. To do that, the UK government must change employment law, which is reserved.

Commenting, Angela Crawley MP said:

“The loss of a baby at any stage of a pregnancy can be traumatic and parents need adequate time to grieve. However, under current rules, the only way they can get that time to grieve is by requesting compassionate leave – which may or may not be granted – or take annual or unpaid leave. This isn’t fair.

“That is why I – along with other MPs from across the House – am urging Boris Johnson to follow in New Zealand’s footsteps and bring in three days of paid leave for anyone who has suffered a miscarriage. Whilst employment law remains reserved to Westminster, only the Tory government has the power to do the right thing and make that change. 

“But we cannot continue to wait for Westminster to act. The SNP Scottish Government has made clear that if we had the power, we would already be setting in motion plans to bring in paid miscarriage leave.”